Cover



A. L. BECKET COVER March 23, 1943'.

Filed Feb. 24, 1959 FR HZ I INVENTOR Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UJNTIT'ED ST .r ssrra O F Fl C E v13 Claims.

This invention relates to manhole covers, drain covers, scuppers, catch basins, monument covers and the like and provides for reduction of wear and the silencing of the noise.

These covers become loose in their seats under the constant wear of traffic and they become noisy. On objection of gaskets and washers now being used for silencing 11's that they wear out rapidly. .A furtherobjection is that they do not stop the noise caused by the lateral motion of the cover striking against the sides of the seat in which the cover rests.

By the present invention shock absorbing cushions are constructed in :a manner to give 'long service under severe traffic .conditions and at the same time give satisfactory noise elimination.

A waterproof {COVBI may be had by this invention when desired by slight modification.

Referring to the drawing Fig. l is a view of the bottom of a manhole cover without the cushion, Fig. 2 is the same with the cushion installed, Fig. .3 :is aside view of the cover with the cushion installed, Fig. '4 is the same without the cushion, Fig. isaview of the cushion showing the -face that rests against the cover, Fig. 6 is a side view of the cushion, Fig. '7 isa side-cross sectional view of cover and cushion combined, Figs. 8 and :9 are cross sectional views of the cover, cushion and seat, Figs. 10, 11, 12, 1'3, 14 are views of modifications of the invention.

In Fig. 1 reference character I is a recess along the outer edge of the cover for accommodating the cushion 2 shown in Fig. "5. In Fig. -1 recess '3 receives the cushion plug 4 shown in Figs. -5 and 6' and aid in anchoring the cushion to the cover. Other means of holding the cushions in 'place may be used as for example riveting, vulcanizing, cementing, expandible plugs, or by means of drive screws.

The holes or cups 5 shown in Figs. 5, '7, 8, and 9 provide a space for the cushioning material 2 to move into when the cushion is subjected to pressure. It is desirable to eliminate as much stretching or moving of the cushion material as possible. This is especially desirable when rubber is used because this material gives longest service when it is stretched or cold flowed in use as short a distance as possible. Without the hole or cup 5 movement ofthe material under compression would be toward the sides of the cushion but with the hole and cup 5 th movement is both toward the sides and the hole or cup 5 and th distance of material movement is thereby lessened.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional end view of a cushion before trafiic pressure has been placed on the cushion and Fig. 9 shows the cushion with pressure exerted upon it. In Fig. 9 the cushion material 2 is shown as having moved into the hole "5 and toward the outside edges of the cushion.

In Fig. 7 the cushion 2 is anchored upon the cover 6 with plug 4 in recess 3.

Fig. 8 shows the assembled cover 6 and cushion 2 in place upon the cover seat I.

Fig. 12 shows a modified form of th cushion in which the cushion material 2 is vulcanized to or molded upon a plate member -8. The plate member 8 maybe made of metal or other material to which the cushioning material 2 may be bonded or secured. The combination plate and cushion are secured to the cover 6 by means of a drive screw 9, rivet H1, screw ll or other means or the cover :6 may "be aportion of the seat of a manhole when the drawing is viewed upside down or the relative position *of the gasket and the portion-6 are interchanged.

Fig. 11 is a composite cross sectional view showing various modifications in the cushion construction such as acurved side l6 and beveled side is having certain advantages with respect to wear and function and suction cups ll which may give certain" aid in reducing motion of the cover with respect to its seat. Also a plug '4 with tapered sides F8 for increasing its holding capacity when forced into the cover hole 3. The sides of plug 4 are fr ictionallyheld against the walls of the cover hole 3 or may be cemented therein. A vent opening 19 may or may not be provided in plug 4 to vent the air in the hole 3 when the plug '4 is forced into the'hole 3. The opening l9 may if desired be closed or may be sealed with a force or wedge plug 2%. The sealed plugA provides a vacuum suctional hold upon the hole 3. The force or wedge plug 21! increases the pressure of the plug 4 against the sides of hole 3.

Fig. "7 shows means of obtaining additional gripping and stopper efiect with plugs 4 by inserting into the vent opening IS an insert 23 and expanding the same with a punch tool. The insert may be a rivet, piece of tubing, wooden plug or other expandibl means. A projection may be cast integral with cover 6 in the base of hole 3 at 25 to grip the sides of the opening l9. Undercuts or threads 22 may be made in the side of hole 3 as shown at 22 to increase the holding effect of plug 4. A chemical may be inserted into the vent I9 to expand the plug 4. Oil, for example, will cause rubber to swell.

Fig. 10 is an end cross sectional view of one form of the cushion in which brake lining material is incorporated into the cushion at l2. The brake lining I2 is composed of asbestos and metal wire cloth and protects the cushion material 2.

Fig. 14 is a modified form of cushion with outer surface l3 formed from laminations of synthetic resin impregnated fabric molded or heat pressed upon a cork cushion member l4. Fibre may be used in place of the cork [4 or the laminations I3. Fig. 14 has a plug member 4 which is inserted and secured to a recess 24 formed in the cushion.

Fig. 13 shows a modification in which the rubber cushion 2 is molded in conjunction with a material 2| which may be a fabric or some plastic material to provide a means of holding the cushion 2 in place or 2| may be an insulating material for protecting the cushion 2.

Where a water proof cover is desired the cushion 2 is formed in one section to avoid the gaps between cushion segments or where segments are used the gaps are closed by bringing the ends of the segments together.

I claim:

1. A cover provided with an annular open recss to receive a noise reducing gasket, a shoulder forming the inner closed side of said recess, the said cover having plug retaining openings in the horizontal face of said recess, the said gasket having expandible plugs and means for expanding said plugs within the said plug retaining openings.

2. A manhole cover having a set back recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a gasket anchored within said recess and completely filling said undercut recess.

3. A manhole cover having a set back rectangular recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a rectangular gasket anchored within said recess and completely filling said recess.

4. A manhole cover having a top surface and a bottom surface, the lower peripheral edge being recessed to provide a set back shoulder, a gasket within said recess and anchored to the undersurface of said shoulder, the lower surface of the gasket being flush with the under surface of the cover and the outer edge of the gasket being flush with the outer edge of the cover.

5. A manhole cover having a top surface and a bottom surface, the lower peripheral edge being recessed to provide a setback shoulder, a rectangular gasket within said recess and anchored to the under surface of said shoulder, the lower surface of the gasket being flush with the under surface of the cover and the outer edge of the gasket being flush with the outer edge of the cover.

6. A manhole cover having a top surface and a bottom surface, the lower peripheral edge being recessed to provide a set back shoulder, a gasket within said recess, the lower surface of the cover has spaced perforations in the cover to receive the shank portions of gasket fastening pins.

'7. A manhole cover having a set back recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a gasket anchored within said recess, the said gasket having countersunk perforations on one side thereof, headed anchoring members seated within said perforations and extending into the cover.

8. A manhole cover having a set back recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a gasket anchored within said recess, and completely filling said recess, the top surface of the gasket member being reinforced, a headed anchoring .member with a shank extending thru said reinforcing surface and entering the cover member whereby the head has bearing contact with the under surface of the reinforcing member.

9. A manhole cover having a set back recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a gasket within said recess and completely filling said undercut recess, the said gasket having a reinforced surface, countersunk perforations on one face of the said gasket penetrating the said gasket for seating headed fastening members, the said reinforced surface being formed of asbestos and wire.

10. A manhole cover having a set back recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a cushion within said recess having a reinforced surface, countersunk perforations on one surface of the said cushion penetrating the said cushion for seating headed fastening members, the said reinforced surface being a flat metal plate.

11. A manhole cover having a set back recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a cushion within said recess having a main body of rubber, a reinforced surface, countersunk perforations 1n the said main body and penetrating the said reinforced surface for seating headed fastening members whereby the head has bearing contact against the under surface of the reinforcing member.

12. A manhole cover having a set back recess in th lower peripheral edge thereof, a shock absorbing bearing anchored Within said recess of rectangular cross section having a main body of soft rubber molded to a reinforcing laminated flat surface composed of contacting layers of fabric impregnated with thermosetting fillers, the said main body being provided with spaced holes on the bearing surface thereof.

13. A manhole cover having a set back recess in the lower peripheral edge thereof, a shock absorbing bearing of rectangular cross section having a main body of cushion material molded to a reinforcing laminated flat surface composed of contacting layers of synthetic resin impregnated material, the said cushion anchored within said recess and completely filling said recess.

ALAN L. BECKET. 

